U P F R O N T

More Howling; United, US Air Newsbites
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In last week's "Howling on Halloween" issue, we devoted the entire Crier to reader feedback. On a personal note, I have to say that it's a blessing and a challenge to have readers who not only use the word 'oligopolistic' but can spell it correctly.

Before getting to the latest miles and points offers, recent developments at 2 of our most beleaguered carriers shouldn't go unreported.

First, United -- which I had expected to declare bankruptcy before the end of Nov. -- has successfully postponed until 2007 repayment of $500 million in debt, $300 million of which was due this month. And separately, United's pilots union agreed to wage concessions worth $2.2 billion. While UA is hardly out of the woods, these moves certainly reduce the likelihood of a bankruptcy filing.

(If you're monitoring UA's financial health, bookmark the Business Traveler Coalition's "United Watch" page.)

The news from US Airways is less reassuring. Although exempt from normal reporting requirements since declaring bankruptcy, US Airways disclosed on Friday their 3rd-quarter financial results: a net loss of $335 million. Year-to-date, US Air has lost $852 million.

M I L E S & P O I N T S

American Adds AT&T to Partner Roster
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New AT&T residential customers can earn up to 5,000 AAdvantage miles for selecting AT&T Long Distance and Local Service. Plus, new and current AT&T residential customers can earn 5 AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent on qualifying AT&T services, excluding surcharges and taxes.

New AT&T customers can call 1-800-428-2600, extension 29600 to sign up for AT&T service. Current customers can call the same number, or go here to sign up for miles.

Earn Bonus AAdvantage Miles for CA Flights
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AAdvantage members will earn bonus miles for roundtrip flights between Los Angles and San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara or Fresno between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15, 2002. Earn 2,000 bonus miles for roundtrip travel in F, Y or B, or double miles for roundtrip travel in H, K or M.

Register prior to travel by calling 1-800-882-8880 and entering promotion code WSC2K. Or register online here.

Delta Doubles Miles for CHI-ATL Flights
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Delta is offering SkyMiles members double miles for travel between Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta Hartsfield through Dec. 31.

Offer is valid for travel in F, Y, B, M, H, Q and K fare classes. Register prior to travel here.

Redeem Fewer Diners Club Points for SWA Awards
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Through Nov. 30, Diners Club members can redeem 25% fewer Club Rewards points for a Southwest Airlines award ticket.

With the discount, a Southwest Rapid Rewards award ticket for travel to any Southwest destination will set you back 24,000 Club Rewards points, instead of the normally required 32,000 points.

To redeem Club Rewards points, Diners Club Cardmembers should call 1-800-234-4034.

Frontier Eliminates Award Blackouts
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"Members of Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns frequent flyer program who redeem miles for award travel on or after Jan. 1 will not be subject to any blackout dates."

So reads the Frontier news release. It continues: "Some capacity restrictions remain in effect, but frequent travelers can override capacity restrictions by requesting an EarlyReturns Plus award ticket at 30,000 miles for domestic travel and 45,000 miles for Mexico travel."

As we opined when the major airlines eliminated blackout dates earlier this year, this is more bull than beef. Capacity controls limit consumers' access to award seats every bit as surely as blackout dates do.

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Thrifty Offers Triple HHonors Points
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Through Jan. 31, 2003, Hilton HHonors members who rent a car from Thrifty at http://www.thrifty.com AND stay at any U.S. Hilton will earn triple HHonors bonus points, a total of 750 bonus points per stay.

To receive the triple HHonors bonus points, use PC code HHTP when reserving a car on Thrifty's website and show your car rental agreement or the keys to your rental car when checking in at a Hilton. Offer is valid only in the U.S.

Priority Club Bonus for Wireless Bookings
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U.S. and Canadian Priority Club Rewards members can earn 3,000 bonus Priority Club points or 1,000 bonus airline miles for qualifying stays at participating Six Continents hotels booked online via a registered wireless device. Booking must take place before Dec. 31 for stays between Dec. 1 and 31.

Eligible wireless devices include WAP-enabled mobile phones and Palm OS wireless devices.

> More...

United Opens Miles-for-Merchandise Mall
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Mileage Plus members can now earn up to 3 miles per $1 spent on merchandise at more than 30 participating online retailers, including Best Buy, Harry and David, Lands' End, Barnes & Noble.com, Nordstrom.com, Sharper Image, etc.

To earn miles, Mileage Plus members must first enroll in the Mileage Plus Mall, after which they will automatically be credited for purchases at network e-tailers. Make your first purchase before Dec. 30 to receive 100 bonus miles, in addition to the miles normally earned.

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Double US Air Miles to Vacation Spots
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US Airways has extended until Mar. 15, 2003, the double-mile offers for travel to/from Belize, Grenada, Providenciales, Punta Cana and St. Kitts.

Registration is required.

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S T E A L S & D E A L S

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

Cross-country flights to/from Florida or Seattle from $228
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Take advantage of National's sale fares to/from Seattle, Miami, and West Palm Beach, and save while you explore the Pacific Northwest coast or the beaches of southern Florida. Travel is available through Dec. 18 to/from Seattle, and Feb. 12, 2003, to/from Florida. Purchase tickets online only and by Monday, Nov. 11. A 7-day advance purchase is required.

> More...

Off-peak holiday airfares from $130
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Northwest and US Airways have announced sale fares to domestic and Canadian destinations for selected off-peak dates.

On Northwest, the lowest fares are for travel on Nov. 28 and 29, Dec. 25, and Jan. 1 and 6; travel on other days will be higher. Book tickets at least 10 days in advance and by Friday, Nov. 22.

On US Airways, the lowest fares are for travel on Nov. 24, 25, 28, and 29, Dec. 25, and Jan. 1; travel on other days will be higher. Book at least 14 days in advance and by Friday, Nov. 15.

> More...

R E A D E R R A N T S & R A V E S

This Week's E-mail Bag
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[In response to Bill's rant in last week's Crier regarding hard-to-use and malfunctioning travel supplier websites...]

"I had similar experience with AA on e-ticket, but after I called their web customer service hotline, I've got my questions answered.

"The reason why someone can't use an e-ticket is because the credit card holder's name doesn't match the one in AA's database. It has to be EXACTLY the same. That is, if the credit card shows a middle initial rather than a middle name, you have to use the middle initial. In my case, I have a hyphen in my first name, but not on my credit card. So I have to get rid of the hyphen when I fill up the "passenger information", to make it exactly the same as the one appeared on my credit card (no hyphen), even though my passport, state ID, etc. does not show in that way, and is in consistent with the one in AA's database (AA screwed up my name when I signed up with AA, but it's too troublesome to change my name over there)."

- Ben-Roy

"To Bill, the writer who says he has never successfully booked a car at the Hertz Gold site, and frequently can't at hotel sites: I have booked dozens of cars at the Hertz site. It walks you through the process, step by step. Regarding hotels, I'll agree that some of the sites are not the easiest to use. But by and large, they also walk you through it. Bill is the reason that the car rental and hotels and airlines will always have a warm body at the end of the phone line..."

- Brian

R E L E V A N T R E A D S

Says Joe: "Fie on Frequent Flyer Foolishness"
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I've always thought of myself as a card-carrying contrarian. It's part and parcel of the consumer-advocacy gene.

But compared to Joe Brancatelli, my contrariness is but a pimple on the nose of convention. Joe is a full-out scourge. And I mean that in the best possible sense, of course.

Case in point: in "The Contrarian's Guide to Frequent-Travel Plans" (link below), Joe presents a withering critique of mileage programs -- NOT to be confused with loyalty programs -- suggesting that there is no such thing as a free lunch (parts I and II), and warning that the Golden Age of frequent-travel programs is over.

Joe, say it ain't so.

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Until next week...